Mop and wringer



NW, 3, 1936, c, E, BUE L 2,059,773

MOP AND WRINGER Filed Oct. 13, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l I IN V EN TOR.

@fafwg we/ Q94, ym/WEE ATTORNEY NQV. 3, 1936. c E BUELL 2,U59,773

MOP AND WRINGER Filed Oct. 13, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

6 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOP AND WRINGER poration of Maryland Application October 13, 1933, Serial No. 693,497

8 Claims.

My invention relates broadly to mops and wringers and more particularly to a simplified construction of mop head and ratchet controlled wringer for mop cloths.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an inexpensive construction of mop head which may be readily manufactured on a quantity production basis and includes a minimum number of parts subject to wear during the useful life of the mop.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction of cam operated locking device for a mop head which may be readily operated to secure a renewal mop cloth in position in the mop and readily actuated to release a worn mop cloth.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a construction of finger actuated lift cam which is conveniently operable to effect the opening of a pair of coacting jaws which grip the end of a mop cloth.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved construction of wringer for mop cloths which may be conveniently operated for imparting a twisting movement to the mop cloth through small angular increments for expelling the cleaning fluid from the mop.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a construction of wringer mechanism for a mop including a pair of coacting locking members which are normally disengaged when the mop is in use and which are engageable under control of a wringer actuating rod for locking the mop cloth in selected tensioned position for effecting a wringing operation of the mop cloth.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction of wringing mechanism for mops including a wringer actuating rod and a pair of coacting ratchet toothed members which are automatically brought into engagement upon release of the wringer actuating rod from a position adjacent the mop handle and operative step by step for locking the mop cloth in selected twisted condition for expelling cleaning fluid from the mop cloth.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the construction of ratchet controlled wringing mechanism and cam controlled securing means for a mop cloth as set forth more fully in the specification hereinafter following by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the combined mop head and wringer constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing thepreliminary operation of twisting the mop cloth after a mopping operation preparatory to forcibly wringing it, the mop head actuating handle being in a position to freely revolve; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the combined. mop head and wringer showing the mop actuating handle locked in wringing position; Fig. 4 is a detailed longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale of the mop assembled in mopping position; Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the mop assembled for a mopping operation; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the mop assembled in mopping position; Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 4; Fig. 8 is a transverse section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 1; Fig. 9 is a detailed sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 6 showing the mop cloth forcibly held between the jaws under control of a locking cam; Fig. 10 is a similar view showing the mop clamping jaws open and the locking cam released; and Fig. 11 is an elevational View showing the assembled mop and wringer of my invention.

My invention is directed to a simplified construction of mop in which a mop cloth may be readily inserted in or removed from a pair of coacting jaws by a cam. actuating device connected with an operating lever which is readily controlled by a single upward or downward movement of the finger to open or close the coacting jaws. I provide a wringing mechanism for the mop cloth which includes a wringer actuating rod which carries the mop head wherein the rod is capable of translatory as well as rotatable movement when disengaged from the position in immediate proximity to the mop handle, for effecting a forward thrust movement to the mop cloth and the engagement of a pair of coacting toothedmembers which permit the twisting of the mop cloth and the locking of the mop cloth in a twisted position for expelling the cleaning fluid therefrom. The wringer actuating rod is capable of angular movement away from the mop handle within the limits of an acute angle for effecting engagement of the coacting toothed-members. Short angular increments of movement may be imparted to the twisted mop cloth for effectively wringing the cleaning fluid from the mop cloth. The locking mechanism may be readily restored to normal by moving the wringer actuating rod toward the mop handle which disengages the toothed members and allows the wringer actuating rod to be freely rotated for untwisting the mop cloth from twisted position. The wringer actuating rod may then be engaged with the mop handle and the mop cloth used in its normal manner.

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference character I designates the mop handle which has an end portion of reduced cross section which extends into a socket member 2 and is secured therein by means of the diametrically extending element 4 which also provides an interconnecting means for the pivotally mounted links 5. The links 5 are pivotally connected with the diametrically extending member 4 by suitable means such as the screw device indicated at 5a. The links 5 are pivotally connected at 6a with a ring member 6 within which the rotatable sleeve 1 is mounted. The rotatable sleeve 1 is provided with an axially extending rectangular bore 8 through which the wringer actuating rod is free to slide longitudinally with respect to the sleeve member 1. A shoulder 9 is formed on the sleeve member 1, which shoulder is rotatable in direct contact with the lower face of the ring 5. A ring member II is secured by pin members 2 to the end of the sleeve 1 which projects through the ring 6, the face of the ring H making contact with the upper face of the ring 6. The shoulder 9 has ratchet teeth 58 formed therein, the teeth being pitched for rotary movement in a clockwise direction.

The end of the socket member 2 is provided with an extension 3 on opposite sides of which the bifurcated portion 55 of the pivoted head 54 extends. The bifurcated portion I5 is pivoted with respect to the extension 3 by means of the loop 31 of the mop head which extends thrcugh the extension 3 and the bifurcated extension i5 on an axis normal to the axis of the mop handle I as shown. A cylindrical sleeve 16 is formed on the pivoted head M on an axis coincident with the axis of the sleeve 1. The sleeve H5 has a cylindrical bore E1 of a size through which the sleeve 1 is adapted to project, the relative size being such that a sliding and rotary movement of sleeve 1 with respect to the bore 51 is effected without lost motion. A shoulder I8 is formed on sleeve !1 and is provided with ratchet teeth l9 which are pitched in a direction opposite to the direction of pitch of the ratchet teeth 53 on shoulder 9. The teeth 19 are stationary as distinguished from the rotatable teeth ii) on shoulder 9.

The wringer actuating rod 20 is square in cross section and is normaliy maintained in a position immediately adjacent and parallel to the axis of the mop handle I by means of clips 39 which engage opposite sides of the rod 28 and intermediate the lugs 2i on the wringer actuating rod 20. A handle 22 is provided on the end of the wringer actuating rod 23 and is secured thereto by suitable means such as the rivet 22a. The resilient clips 39 are secured with respect to the mop handle I by means of rivet 40 as shown more clearly in Fig. 8.

The end of the wringer actuating rod 20 carries the clamping plate 23 which is secured to the rod 20 by suitable means such as rivets 24. The clamping plate 23 has a lower clamping jaw 25 formed thereon in the form of serrations against which the free ends 38 of the mop cloth 35 are adapted to be clamped. The clamping plate 23 is provided with rolled hinge members 26 formed at the rear edge of plate 23. An upper clamping plate 21 is disposed adjacent the lower clamping plate 23. Hinge members 28 are provided on the upper clamping plate 21 and are disposed directly adjacent the hinge members 26 on the lower clamping plate 23. Pintles 29 extend through the hinge members 26 and 28 thereby providing for pivotal movement between the clamping plates 23 and 21 through an angular distance sufficient to allow the insertion of the free ends 38 of the mop cloth 35 and the securing thereof between the clamping plates. The upper clamping plate 21 is provided with an upper clamping jaw 30 which coacts with the lower clamping jaw 25 for gripping the free ends 38 of the mop cloth 35. The upper clamping plate 21 carries a bracket member 3| in which a pivot member 32 is journaled. The pivot member 32 carries the cam 33 which is integrally connected with the finger actuated lever 34. The finger actuated lever 34 extends in alignment with the axis of the mop handle and is normally elevated sufficiently from the upper clamping plate 21 to allow the finger nail, or some other object, to be inserted under the end of the finger actuated lever 34 for thus permitting the finger actuated lever to be raised for moving the cam 33 to a position for eifecting the spreading of the clamping plates 23 and 21. When the finger actuated lever 34 is pressed downwardly the cam 33 which is integrally connected therewith operates with respect to the surface of the wringer actuating rod 20 for forcing the upper and lower clamping plates 23 and 21 into engagement for clamping the free ends 38 of the mop cloth 35 between the upper and lower clamping jaws 30 and 25 respectively.

The mop cloth 35 has its central portion looped through the pivoted loop 31 as shown at 36 and the free ends 38 gathered between the clamping plates 23 and 21 as heretofore explained.

As illustrated in Fig. 11 the mop may be readily packed for shipment in its assembled position with the wringer actuating rod secured by the resilient clips 39 in a position immediately adjacent the mop handle I. The position of the mop illustrated in Fig. 11 is the assembled position in which the mop is actually used. The knob 4| on the end of the mop handle I enables the mop to be conviently forced under manual pressure during a mopping operation. The normal position of the mop when in use has been illustrated in Fig. 1. When it is desired to wring the mop cloth the mop handle is held in the left hand as illustrated in Fig. 2 and the handle 2 is grasped by the right hand and disengaged from the spring clips 39 secured to the mop handle I and the wringer actuating rod swung outwardly within the limits of an acute angle determined by the length of the pivotally mounted links 5 and the translatory movement of the sleeve 1 carrying ratchet teeth I 0 and the coordinated rocking movement of the pivoted head [4 which carries ratchet teeth l9. Upon engagement of the ratchet teeth by the outward thrust of the wringer actuating rod, rotary movement may be imparted to the wringer actuating rod 20 in one direction for twisting the mop cloth 35 and wringing the cleansing fluid therefrom. As the tension increases the increments of movement which are imparted to the wringer actuating rod 20 may become less for twisting the mop cloth to a wringing position as illustrated in Fig. 3. The teeth engage after each increment and the mop cloth thus remains locked in a position for squeezing the cleaning fluid therefrom. As soon as the cleaning fluid has been expelled from the mop cloth the wringer actuating rod may be moved toward the mop handle which automatically disengages the teeth In and [9 thus allowing an automatic untwisting of the mop cloth followed by a subsequent hand operation to free the mop cloth of any remaining twist and a retraction of the wringer actuating rod 20 to a position of engagement with the mop handle I ready for a subsequent mopping operation.

It will be seen that the complete mopping and wringing operation may be accomplished without touching the mop cloth with the hands. The twisting operation may be conveniently accomplished with little exertion and the entire mopping and wringing operation can be performed with minimum effort. The parts of the mop and wringer are simple in design and construction and the moving parts are so few in number that wear and replacement becomes a very small factor in the use of the mop and wringer of my invention.

While I have described the mop and wringer of my invention in one of its preferred embodiments I desire that it be understood that modifications may be made and that no limitations upon my invention are intended except as may be imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. A mop of the character described comprising a mop handle, a support carried by said mop handle, a head pivotally mounted with respect to -said support about a pivot substantially trans- Verse to said handle, a mop cloth supported with respect thereto, said head having a cylindrical bore therein, a sleeve member slidably and rotatably mounted with respect to said head, a wringer actuating rod slidably and non-rotatably mounted in said sleeve member and connected at the end thereof with said mop cloth, coacting teeth on said head and said sleeve member, and links confining said sleeve in a predetermined path of movement with respect to said mop handle for effecting an engagement or dis engagement of said teeth for locking said rod against rotation or permitting a twisting movement of said mop cloth, respectively.

2. A mop of the character described comprising a mop handle, a head pivotally connected with said handle on a pivot substantially transverse to said handle, sleeve member projectible into said head and slidable and rotatable with respect thereto, coacting teeth on said head and said sleeve member, a wringer rod slidably and non-rotatably mounted in said sleeve member, a mop head carried by the end of said wringer rod, a mop cloth connected between said mop handle and said mop head, and means for limiting the angular displacement of said wringer rod with respect to said mop handle and controlling the engagement of said teeth for maintaining said mop cloth in a selected twisted position for wringing cleansing fluid therefrom and the disengagement of said teeth for permitting a twisting movement of said mop cloth.

3. In a mop of the character described, a mop head comprising a pair of clamping members, means hingedly connecting said members along one edge thereof, a bracket carried by one of said members, a supporting rod connected with the other of said members and extending substantially perpendicular to said edge on the opposite side of said edge from the clamping members, a cam pivotally mounted with respect to said bracket, and an actuating lever connected with said cam and operative to shift said cam toward or away from a point on said supporting rod on the opposite side of said edge from the clamping members for clamping or spreading said members for effecting the gripping or detaching of a mop cloth.

4. In a mop and wringer, a mop handle, a support carried by said mop handle at one extremity thereof, a two-part locking means having one part thereof pivotally mounted in said support about a pivot transverse to said handle, a rod member rotatably and slidably mounted with respect to said one part of said locking means, the other part of said locking means being non-rotatively and slidably carried by said rod, a mop cloth mounted between one end of said rod and said support, and means controlled by swinging said rod member about said pivot for engaging the two parts of said locking means and locking said rod member in selected positions as the mop cloth connected thereto is subjected to a twisting action.

5. In a combined mop and wringer, a mop handle, a support carried thereby, a member pivoted on said support about a pivot substantially transverse to said handle, said member having a bore therethrough extending substantially transverse to said pivot, an independent tubular member aligned with the bore in said first mentioned member, links pivotally connecting said independent member With said support, means permitting rotation of said independent member with respect te said links, a wringer actuating rod extending through both said members in slidable and rotatable relation with respect to the first said member and slidable and non-rotatable relation with respect to the second said member, a mop cloth supported between said wringer actuating rod and said support, and coacting locking means on said members, said means being disengaged when said wringer actuating rod is moved to a position immediately adjacent said mop handle and being engaged when said wringer actuating rod is moved to the limits of an acute angle with respect to said mop handle, whereby said mop cloth is locked in a selected twisted position.

6. In a mop of the character described, a mop head comprising a lower clamping jaw, a supporting ro-d centrally connected with said lower clamping jaw, said rod extending substantially perpendicular to said hinge connection on the opposite side of said hinge connection from said clamping jaws, an upper clamping jaw hingedly connected with said lower clamping jaw, a bracket carried by the central portion of said upper clamping jaw, and a cam member pivotally mounted in said bracket in a position directly over the connection of said supporting rod with said lower clamping jaw and adapted to engage said rod at a point across said hinge connection from said jaws, and a finger member integrally connected with said cam for shifting said cam through a distance of substantially for eifecting an opening and closing operation of said jaws.

'7. In a mop and wringer, a mop handle, a support carried thereby, an elongated loop member pivotally mounted in said support and extending substantially transverse to said mop handle, a tubular member pivotally mounted in said support by said loop member on an axis substantially transverse to said handle, a wringer actuating rod rotatably and slidably mounted in said tubular member, a mop head connected with said rod, means for mounting a mop cloth between said loop member and said mop head, locking means slidably and non-rotatively carried on said rod and cooperating locking means disposed on said tubular member, and means whereby said locking means are engageable by swinging said rod about said pivot for holding said mop cloth in selected twisted positions.

8. A mop of the character described comprising a mop handle, a wringer rod slidable and rotatable and pivotally mounted with respect to said mop handle about a pivot substantially transverse to said mop handle, a mop cloth supported between said rod and said handle, and

10 means disposed between said rod and said handle and comprising members slidable with respect to said rod end having coacting ratchet teeth for permitting twisting of the mop cloth in one direction and maintaining said mop cloth in selected twisted position when engaged, and means whereby said first mentioned means are engageable by outwardly swinging said rod about said pivot, and disengageable by swinging said rod about said pivot inwardly towards said handle. CLARENCE E. BUELL. 

